February 11...Glenn Howard won his third straight provincial title, defeating Peter Corner, 9-4 in the final of the TSC Stores Tankard, which took place at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, February 4-10.

Howard, and his Coldwater & District Curling Club team of third Richard Hart, second Brent Laing and lead Craig Savill, now return to the Tim Hortons Brier in Winnipeg, March 8-16, ready to defend the Canadian title they won last year in Hamilton.  Of course, they capped off a banner 2007 season by also winning the Ford world men’s curling championship in Edmonton.

Howard completed the 10-team round robin with a 9-1 mark, losing only to Toronto’s Mike Harris, 9-6 in the final draw to finish first overall. 

But in the Page Playoff 1 vs 2 game, Howard lost again, this time to Brampton’s Peter Corner, a former teammate, 6-4.  Thus, Corner advanced to the final, while Howard had to play Harris in the semi-final.    Howard got off to a quick start, taking three in the first, and eventually won 7-2, to set up the rubber match with Corner.

The final didn’t last long, either, as Howard rocketed out of the gate with a four-spot in the first end and went on to a 9-4 victory in a game which only went six ends.

This will be the 10th Brier appearance for the 45-year-old Howard.  He played third for brother Russ in seven Briers, winning the Canadian and world championships in 1987 and 1993, before skipping his team to a runner-up finish in 2006, then a win in 2007, followed by another world title.

Hart makes his third consecutive appearance at the Tim Hortons Brier, while Laing and Savill will be returning for a fourth time.  In addition to playing with Howard the last two years, they also teamed with Ontario skip John Morris in 2002, finishing the runner-up to Alberta’s Randy Ferbey at the Nokia Brier in Calgary.  

Savill and Laing are also world junior champions, playing third and lead, respectively, for Ontario’s John Morris in 1998 and 1999.   Hart won a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, as third for Canada’s Mike Harris.

Ontario has won nine Briers, the last by Glenn Howard in 2007.

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